Why Women’s Health is Still an Afterthought and Why That Needs to Change

Women’s health has been ignored, underfunded, and dismissed for far too long. From painful periods to menopause, women are told to “just deal with it.” It’s time to demand better research, better care, and a system that actually listens.

 

Why is Women’s Health Still Not Taken Seriously?

Raise your hand if you’ve ever been told your crippling period pain is “just part of being a woman.” Or if you’ve spent years being dismissed by doctors, only to later discover you have a condition like endometriosis or PCOS that should have been diagnosed ages ago.

Women’s health has been sidelined for centuries. Most medical research is based on male bodies, and anything related to female hormones is often treated like a niche issue rather than a fundamental part of healthcare. The result? Women are routinely misdiagnosed, under-treated, and gaslit about their own pain. And honestly, we’re sick of it.

The Healthcare Gender Gap is Real

Let’s talk facts.

• Women are more likely to be misdiagnosed when having a heart attack because symptoms present differently than in men.

• Conditions like endometriosis take an average of seven years to diagnose. Seven. Years.

• Medical trials historically excluded women, meaning a lot of treatments and drugs were never even tested on female bodies.

• Menopause, which affects half the population, has been so under-researched that most doctors receive little to no training on how to treat it.

Meanwhile, women are routinely prescribed antidepressants when their symptoms are actually due to hormonal imbalances. Instead of addressing root causes, we’re handed a prescription and told to get on with it.

From Periods to Menopause – Why Are We Expected to Suffer in Silence?

The message women get over and over again?

• Painful periods? Take some ibuprofen and get on with it.
• Debilitating menopause symptoms? Just age gracefully.
• Struggling with hormonal issues? It’s probably in your head.

This is not good enough. Women deserve better. We deserve doctors who take our symptoms seriously. We deserve research that prioritises our health, not just as an afterthought but as a core part of medical science. We deserve workplaces that recognise the impact of periods, pregnancy, and menopause instead of pretending they don’t exist.

It’s Time for Change – And We’re Done Waiting

Women’s health is not a luxury. It is not a side issue. It is not something to be put on the back burner while the world deals with “bigger” problems.

So what needs to happen?

• More research. Stop treating female health as a secondary concern. Fund studies that focus on women’s bodies, hormones, and long-term health.
• Better medical training. Doctors need to understand that women’s symptoms are real and that female health conditions are not just “hormonal” mood swings.
• Workplace policies that actually support women. Paid leave for severe period pain, proper menopause support, and real flexibility for working mums.
• Women advocating for women. If a doctor dismisses you, push back. Seek second opinions. Demand better care for yourself and others.

The bottom line? Women’s health matters. We’re done being ignored, and we’re done suffering in silence. It’s time to speak up and demand the healthcare we actually deserve.